Later today, Google will release the first beta of Android 16 for developers and enthusiasts with supported Pixel devices (Pixel 6 and newer). As noted previously, the firm intends to ship this release on an accelerated schedule as part of a longer-term shift in its annual release cycle from Q3 to Q2.
“The first beta of Android 16 is now available, which means it’s time to open the experience up to both developers and early adopters,” Android vice president Matthew McCullough explains. “You can now enroll any supported Pixel device here to get this and future Android Beta updates over-the-air.”
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Some of the new keys in Android 16 Beta 1 include:
Adaptive apps are becoming a requirement. Starting with Android 16, apps can no longer restrict their orientation and resizability on large screen devices like foldables and tablets. That is, they will no longer appear in a floating phone orientation, but will instead scale across aspect ratios and orientations. Google long ago added APIs so developers can adapt to large displays, but those apps that don’t support this will now fill the screen. Developers can explicitly opt-out of this for this release only, which means they’ll have to touch the code. But that will end with the next release. Love it. You can learn more about this change on the Android Developer blog.
Live updates. It’s not just Samsung: Live updates: Google’s take on Dynamic Island, one of iOS’s most productive features, is widely coming to Android. “Live updates are a new notification elegance that is to help users monitor and temporarily access vital activities,” Google said. “They assist you to save you those instances of employing critical progress from other, less talented notifications, give them prominent lock screen space, and provide a more consistent user experience. “Live updates are a superior precedence, and capacity is optimized for ridesharing, food delivery, and navigation use.
Cameras and medium updates. Android 16 admits the Advanced Professional Video Codec (APV) used in Pro Video and Postproduction. There is also a new extension of the nightly indicator for camera applications, so that they can transfer when necessary.
Accessibility improvements. Android 16 includes new accessibility APIs related to supplemental descriptions and required form fields.
With Android 16, developers can create their own Gemini extensions, as Samsung has done for its Galaxy S25 family of phones.
As a reminder, Google will release two versions of the Android 16 API in 2025. The first, with regular tweaks that will affect apps, will arrive with Android 16 in the second quarter. And for now, in the fourth quarter, it will be a minor update. with new features, optimizations and bug fixes, but no new habit adjustments affecting the app. Google will also continue to provide quarterly updates to the Android operating formula that focus primarily on quality (i. e. bug fixes and security). The Android 16 preview program will run until November 2025 for Q3 and Q4 updates.
Google expects Android 16 to succeed in the stability milestone of the platform in March after a launch of Beta 2 in February. The stability of the platform is when the API SDK and NDK ends and all internal behaviors and application -oriented.
Those who need to verify Android 16 Beta 2 can install it live later today on a compatible Pixel or use the lacheck Android emulator preview in Android Studio. If you’re already using Android 16 Developer Preview 2, you’ll be introduced to OTA Beta 2.
You can learn more about the Android Developer website.
Paul Thurrott is an award-winning technology journalist and blogger with 30 years of industry experience and the author of 30 books. He is the owner of Thurrott.com and the host of three tech podcasts: Windows Weekly with Leo Laporte and Richard Campbell, Hands-On Windows, and First Ring Daily with Brad Sams. He was formerly the senior technology analyst at Windows IT Pro and the creator of the SuperSite for Windows from 1999 to 2014 and the Major Domo of Thurrott.com while at BWW Media Group from 2015 to 2023. You can reach Paul via email, Twitter or Mastodon.
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